May 24th is “Caturday” at Gulf Coast Humane Society

Dress for Success Community Action Project shines the spotlight on fabulous felines in this fun family event and adoption event

Barbara Dell, Executive Director of Dress for Success SW Florida, is pleased to announce that on the heels of its successful inaugural event, a Yappy Hour Pawty at the Bell Tower Shops, Cause for the Paws Southwest Florida will present “Make Everyday a Caturday,” a free cat adoption event from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 at the Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS). Cause for the Paws Southwest Florida is this year’s Community Action Project, chaired by April Bordeaux of the Dress for Success SW Florida’s Professional Women’s Group.

“Make Everyday a Caturday” will turn the spotlight on the fabulous felines at GCHS and their new free-range cat rooms where the frisky friends can lounge in the outdoor patio or cozy up in a cat condo without being confined to a cage. Come enjoy a fun afternoon of food, drinks, entertainment, raffles and on-site adoptions. Be the first to adopt a cat and receive a special “welcome home” gift basket. The next ten pet adoptions (cat or dog) will receive a gift card courtesy of Walmart. In addition, each adopted cat will go to his or hers “furever” home with a free toy provided by GCHS.

The recent Cause for the Paws Yappy Hour Pawty at Bell Tower Shops exceeded its goals to support the Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS), raising more than $2,000 in funds, collecting an abundance of donated items to “Fill the Fountain” and promoting spay/neuter programs. More than three hundred people attended the event with their four-legged friends. All four GCHS dogs that walked the catwalk in the “Diamonds in the Rough” portion of that night’s costume contest/fashion show were adopted as a direct result of the event. Visitor traffic to GCHS also spiked the day after, resulting in even more canine adoptions.

The Professional Women’s Group (PWG) is a networking, job retention and professional development program that empowers employed Dress for Success SW Florida clients to aspire for self-defined success through motivation, mentoring, resources, training and partnership with professional women in the community. Membership is lifelong, free, and open to all Dress for Success clients who are working or in school.

Bordeaux was selected as the 2013-2014 delegate to represent the SW Florida affiliate of Dress for Success with the Community Action Project, an annual project designed by Dress for Success Worldwide for the purpose of reaching out into the community and helping an underserved organization. She chose to establish Cause for the Paws Southwest Florida to end the euthanization of healthy pets by educating the community about spay and neuter programs while inspiring people to adopt, not buy, their next furry family member. Bordeaux is Creative Director at CONRIC PR & Marketing | Publishing in Fort Myers.

About Cause for the Paws Southwest Florida:

Four to six million animals are euthanized in shelters across the nation each year. Almost 5000 animals are killed each year in Lee County alone. Only 20% of people adopt their pets. It is the belief of the founder of Cause for the Paws Southwest Florida, that together we can change these statistics through compassion, education and awareness. For more information, visit CauseForThePawsSWFL.com or email info@causeforthepawsswfl.com.

About Dress for Success:

The mission of Dress For Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The vision for the Southwest Florida affiliate is to provide an opportunity for socially and economically disadvantaged women in Lee and Collier counties to improve themselves, receive support in career development and feel more confident and empowered. There are 130 Dress for Success affiliates worldwide providing career wardrobes and employment counseling to disadvantaged women. Dress for Success SW Florida’s office and boutique are located at 12995 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 153, in the Pinebrook Plaza next to Bell Tower in Fort Myers. For more information, visit www.DressForSuccess.org/swflorida.